Rioli injured in Hawk romp

Questions over Melbourne growing louder

HAWTHORN paid a high price for its outstanding 67point AFL win over Melbourne, losing Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo to injury.

Rioli (knee) and Puopolo (hamstring) could be out for several weeks after the Hawks smashed the Demons in wet conditions yesterday at the MCG.

The small forwards are crucial to Hawthorn’s set-up.

After dominating early, Melbourne could only kick one goal from the 29-minute mark of the first quarter.

Hawthorn won the tackle count 111 to 75 in the greasy conditions and Melbourne’s defence again leaked like a sieve.

It was a performance that fuels all the queries about the Demons’ bona fides as they aim to return to the finals for the first time since 2006.

And it was despite cocaptain Nathan Jones doing a great job on prolific Hawks midfielder Tom Mitchell.

Hawthorn’s reigning best and fairest champion had at least 40 possessions in the first three rounds, but Jones restricted him to 24.

It did not matter, because the Hawks dominated after quarter-time and ran rampant with seven goals in the last quarter.

Hawks defender James Frawley went to the rooms at quarter-time, apparently with a migraine.

Although he returned in the second half, Frawley struggled. Rioli suffered a knock to the knee in the third term and then Puopolo cut a disconsolate figure when he also left the game during the third quarter with his hamstring injury.

Luke Breust kicked the first goal within 30 seconds of the opening bounce and he starred with four for the game.

Then the Demons, who started with no wingmen, dominated with a four-goal run and raced to a 21-point lead.

Hawthorn was able to restrict the damage and kicked the last goal of the term to trail by only 12 points.

Melbourne continued to have more of the ball, but all the queries about its defence resurfaced in the second quarter.

Hawthorn kicked four goals to four behinds and turned the game on its head for an eightpoint lead at the long break.

While Mitchell was still having little influence, fellow onballer Liam Shiels picked up the slack with a 10-posession quarter.

Despite losing Rioli and Puopolo, Hawthorn continued to dominate in the third term and piled on another four goals.

The wet conditions meant its 32-point lead was worth more and when Jack Gunston kicked a booming goal from outside 50m at the start of the last quarter, it was game over.

Shield had a game-high 31 possessions while onballer Jaeger O’Meara kicked two goals to go with his 26 disposals.